ASHLAND, Ohio – The Trevecca Nazarene University women's basketball team made the Great Midwest Athletic Championships Finals for the second year in a row. It is the fourth appearance all-time for the Purple and White in the G-MAC Finals.
 
For the second year in a row the location and the opponent are the same. No. 1 Ashland University awaits the Trojans on Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium. The Eagles are the regular season champions and earned the host honors for the Great Midwest Final Four.
 
The championship game is scheduled to tip on Saturday (March 9) at 2:00 PM CT.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME COVERAGE | LIVE VIDEO / LIVE STATS
 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME | INFO
Trevecca NCAA Rankings
Karen Booker Bio
NCAA History/Records
 
PATH TO THE FINALS
The Trojans hit the road to Midland, Michigan for their G-MAC Quarterfinal game (Tuesday, March 5), winning in overtime at third seed Northwood University.
 
In the semifinals (Friday, March 8), Trevecca beat seventh seed Malone University with a fourth quarter rally at Ashland's Kates Gym. 
 
Top seeded Ashland University opened the postseason with a 66-44 G-MAC Quarterfinal (Tuesday, March 5) win over the eighth seed University of Findlay at Kates Gym. In the semifinals, the Eagles beat fourth seed Thomas More 67-56 (Friday, March 8), also at Kates.
 
WHAT'S ON THE LINE
Trevecca continues chasing history in their final season of Great Midwest play. The Trojans are moving to the Gulf South Conference next season but look to make a mark one last time in the Great Midwest. The win in the semifinals over Malone University is the first for the program. The Pioneers had won the first ten meetings with the Purple White.
 
Trevecca is 0-7 all-time against the powerhouse Eagles. A win on Saturday would also be the first postseason championship for the program at the NCAA D2 level.
 
It is a chance to improve their chances of making a return trip to the NCAA Championships and the Midwest Regional. The Trojans made their first trip to the NCAA Championships last season and reached the semifinals.
 
The win over Malone increases the chances the Trojans will make a return trip to the NCAA Division II Championships at next week's Midwest Regional. Trevecca was ranked seventh in last week's regional ranking, the top eight in next week's ranking will advance to the regional.
 
The Midwest Regional begins with the quarterfinals on Friday, March 15. The semifinals are Saturday, March 16. The finals are Monday, March 18.
 
Grand Valley State University, in Allendale, Michigan, appears to have the edge in hosting the Midwest Regional as the No. 1 team in last week's region ranking. GVSU is playing Wisconsin Parkside in the GLIAC Finals on Saturday.  
 
2023-2024 TREVECCA VS ASHLAND REGULAR SEASON
Ashland won both regular season meetings this year.
 
In the first meeting, at Trevecca's Trojan Fieldhouse (Jan. 4), the Trojans made their best run at the Eagles. Though the Eagles prevailed, 72-68, Trevecca led a significant portion of the game. TNU took their first lead at 6-5 with 8:11 to go in the first quarter and led the rest of the first half, owning a 34-29 lead at the intermission. Ashland regained the lead early in the third quarter, but the teams swapped the lead during the quarter and went to the fourth tied 55-55. Trevecca took a modest lead in the fourth, holding a 62-61 lead with 7:18 to go. Ashland eased ahead, but Trevecca tied it again at 66-66 with 2:30 left. With :13 left and AU up 70-68, the Trojans missed a shot in the paint and the Eagles rebounded and were able to salt the game away, 72-68.     
 
In the rematch, Ashland prevailed again, 82-61, this time on Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium. But, Trevecca led early and trailed just 40-37 with 7:52 left in the third quarter. It was then the Eagles surged to create a significant margin and held off the Trojan efforts to rally in the fourth quarter. Bench scoring went to the Eagles 30-6 and had a 40-34 advantage on the boards. Ashland dished out 25 assists to Trevecca's seven. Ashland hit 15 of 35 from three-point land while the Trojans hit 4 of 16. Trevecca did hit 11 of 12 from the line and won the turnover category 14-12.
 
TREVECCA GREAT MIDWEST POSTSEASON HISTORY

SEASON	SEED	RESULT	RECORD
2012-13	1	Finals	1-1
2013-14	1	Finals	2-1
2014-15	2	Semifinal	0-1
2015-16	5	Semifinal	1-1
2018-19	8	Quarterfinal	0-1
2020-21	7	Quarterfinal	0-1
2022-23	3	Finals	2-1
2023-24	6	*Finals	2-0
			8-7

 

TREVECCA GREAT MIDWEST POSTSEASON HISTORY NOTES

2012-13 In its first season in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the Trojans won the regular season title and hosted the first G-MAC Championships at Trojan Fieldhouse. Trevecca beat Central State University in the semifinals before falling to Urbana University in the title game.

2013-14 In year two of the Great Midwest, Trevecca won the regular season and host honors for the championships. Trevecca defeated Central State University in the tournament opener, this time in the quarterfinal round. In the semifinals, Trevecca defeated Ursuline College. Kentucky Wesleyan College knocked off Trevecca in the title game.

2014-15 Trevecca earned the second seed at the G-MAC Championships, hosted by Cedarville University. Trevecca received a bye in the quarterfinals but lost to third-seeded Kentucky Wesleyan College in the semifinals.

2015-16 Trevecca entered the Great Midwest Championships as the fifth seed and upset Davis & Elkins College in the quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded Ursuline College in the semifinals.

2018-19 Trevecca reached the postseason championships for the first time in three years as the eighth seed. Top-seed Walsh University ended the Trojan's season in the quarterfinals.

2020-21 After a year away, due to COVID-19, the Trojans returned to the Great Midwest Championships as the seventh seed. Second-seeded Kentucky Wesleyan College defeated the Trojans in the quarterfinals.

2022-23 Trevecca reached the Great Midwest Championships as the third seed and surprised almost everyone advancing to the title game. Trevecca beat sixth-seed Walsh University in the quarterfinals at Trojan Fieldhouse. In the semifinals at Ashland's Kates Gym, TNU defeated second seed Kentucky Wesleyan College. In the Finals, undefeated and No. 1 Ashland University ended Cinderella's run.   But, Trevecca advanced to the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history. Trevecca, the fifth seed, advanced to the semifinals with a quarterfinal win over fourth-seeded Michigan Tech University. Trevecca's run finally ended at the hands of the eventual undefeated national champions, No. 1 Ashland.

2023-24 Trevecca pulled the road upset as the sixth seed, they won on the road in the Great Midwest Quarterfinals at third-seed Northwood University. TNU is 4-0 all-time versus Northwood.   Trevecca defeated seventh seed Malone University in the semifinals on Friday earning a spot in the Great Midwest Finals for the fourth time overall and second season in a row. It was the first ever win over the Pioneers who had taken the W in the first 10 meetings.

 
CARTER / WILKEN MAKE GREAT MIDWEST ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
The 2024 Great Midwest Athletic Conference All-Conference team includes TNU's Keeley Carter on the first team and Faith Wilken on the second team.
 
Carter is the fourth leading scorer in all of NCAA Division II at 21.3 points per game. This year, she leads the Great Midwest averaging 21.3 points per game and is averaging an impressive 8.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Carter is shooting 48.2% (200-415) from the field, 39.2% (38-97) from three-point range, and 83.2% (159-191) from the foul line.
 
In addition to leading the G-MAC in scoring Carter is second in three-point field goal percentage, second in free throw percentage, third in rebounding, fourth in assists, seventh in field goal percentage, and eighth in assist/turnover ratio.
 
For Wilken, she is averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. She's shooting 41.3% (88-213) from the field, 33.6% (42-125) from three-point range, and 83.3% (35-42) from the foul line.
 
The senior guard tied a school record in the NCAA era with seven made three-pointers in a game. A record broken later in the season when her teammate and sister hit eight three-pointers in a game.
 
2023-24 PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
KEELEY CARTER
Four times, including three consecutive weeks during the conference season, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference selected Carter as the Player of the Week (02/19, 02/12, 02/05, 12/11).
 
FAITH WILKEN
Wilken was honored by the Great Midwest Athletic Conference as their Player of the Week (01/29) once this season and earned the state-wide all-division Tennessee Sports Writer's Association Player of the Week (01/03) award once.
 
SEASON TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL NOTES
KEELEY CATER 2023-2024 SEASON NOTES 
Carter has scored in double figures in 28 of the 29 games played this season with nine (9) double-double games (points/rebounds).
 
One of those double-double nights provided Carter with another piece of history, she tied the NCAA era single game rebound record with 17 rebounds against Kentucky Wesleyan.
 
She has scored 20+ points in 16 games this year and 30+ points in three games, not including the 37 against APSU in an exhibition game.
 
KEELEY CARTER CAREER NOTES
Her career numbers are already one for the record books and once her career is over, even more records will have her name beside them. 
 
Headed to the Great Midwest Semifinals, she has scored 1,812 career points. To put that into perspective, only Jennifer Wilson, a four-time All-American and member of the Trevecca Hall of Fame, has scored more points. Carter already holds the NCAA D2 era career scoring record. Jennifer Wilson holds the all-time (NAIA/NCAA) record with 2,109 points.
 
While Carter's scoring stands out most to many, her other numbers bely what is typical of high scoring basketball players. It is hard to find many in the history of the game who have scored 1800+ points and have 600+ rebounds. But Carter has that and more, she has 667 career rebounds. Second only to Rachel Raby (724) in the D2 era and is fourth on the all-time list. Jennifer Bognar has the most All-time (743).
 
So, you score a lot of points and grab a lot of rebounds, you probably don't have time or energy for much more. Not Carter. Her 328 assists are the most in the NCAA era.
 
Her numbers do not stop impressing there, she also has 136 steals, fourth most in the NCAA era and her 55 career blocks place her in the top five in the D2 era.
 
Carter has scored in double figures in 79 of her last 81 games and in 92 of her 97 career games.
 

YEAR	Double Point Games	Double Reb. Games	Double Double	20+ Point Games	30+ Point Games
20-21	11 (of 12)	4	4	4
21-22	22 (of 24)	3	3	11
22-23	31 (of 32)	2	2	11
23-24	28 (of 29)	9	9	16	3
TOTAL	92 (of 97)	18	18	42	3

 
Her 21.3 points per game average this season has pushed her career average to 18.7. Those two current averages, season and career, is the highest scoring average in each category in school history, NAIA or NCAA.
 
Her current career rebound average, 6.9 per game, is ranked second in the D2 era and rank her fifth All-time (NAIA/NCAA).
 
Her career assists average is 3.3 per game and currently ranks second in the NCAA era, sixth All-time including the NAIA era.
 
Carter set the NCAA era made field goals record last season but is now fourth on the all-time list. Same for the made free throws list, but she's second on the all-time list, five (5) behind Mariska Reed.
 
Her career three-point percentage is .365 is the highest in the NCAA era when she finishes her career.
 
CARTER SINGLE GAME SCORING RECORD
When it comes to single game scoring, her numbers continue to impress. She owns the all-time school record with a 39-point game earlier this season at Lake Erie. She also scored 37 vs Austin Peay State University, but won't count in the official records because the game counted as an exhibition for Trevecca, despite the game being the inaugural regular season game for the Govs in their new downtown arena.
 
MORE ON FAITH WILKEN
Wilken, who played for Ron Brock at Page High School, produced a career high 27 points against Lake Erie and added 13 rebounds for a double-double. She hit what was then a school record tying seven three-pointers.
 
The Nolensville, Tenn. native scored in double figures in 14 of her 20 games so far this season. She scored 20 or more points in three games this season.
 
Despite not playing several games in the first semester, Wilken has already reached a career high in points (270), steals (45), blocks (22), free throws made (37), and is nearing a career high in field goals made (two away). She tied currently for the highest rebound average and has her second-best season scoring average.
 
The elder Wilken sister has 757 career points and 410 rebounds. She's hit 117 career three pointers and has 112 steals.
 
LILI WILKEN NOTES
Lili Wilken continues to expand her Trevecca resume in year two.
 
She has scored in double figures 16 times this year with a season high 26 against Cedarville when she hit eight three-pointers. She scored 20+ points twice.
 
Wilken grabbed a piece of history recently, knocking down and NCAA era record eight three-pointers. The sharp-shooting exhibition came on the road in a game at Cedarville. The performance ties her in the all-time record book with KC Van Atta who hit eight during the NAIA era.
 
The Nolensville, Tenn. native and Page High School star, is already well on her way to 1000 career points. She enters the Great Midwest finals with 635 career points. She's already hit 107 career three pointers and dished out 139 assists.
 
In the meeting with Cedarville in Nashville, Wilken had her season high in rebounding with seven.
 
She had eight steals in the Trojans win over Northwood in the G-MAC Quarterfinals. She had nine assists against Northwood in the regular season meeting.
 
She hit three or more three-pointers in ten games.
 
KONNOR GAMBRELL NOTES
The graduate transfer is averaging 12.4 points per game and already has 361 points and has 149 rebounds and 49 steals.
 
Gambrell scored in double figures 2e times this season and had a season high 20 against Tiffin.
 
Gambrell had two double-doubles, the first was a 15 point and 14 rebounds effort against nationally ranked Drury.
 
Her other double-double, was a 14 point and 11 rebound effort against the Timberwolves of Northwood in the G-MAC Quarterfinals.
 
She had nine games with three or more steals.
 
AMAYA THOMAS NOTES
Freshman Amaya Thomas has continued to come on this season.
 
She's scored in double figures four times this season and had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds against Lake Erie in Nashville.
 
KOR FORNESA LIU NOTES
Liu has scored in double figures 13 times with a season high 21 against Kentucky Wesleyan College.
 
The senior scored 20+ twice this year and has the highest field goal percentage, shooting 54.9% from the field.
 
Liu has four games with double figure rebounds and is averaging 6.2 rebounds per game.
 
She had a season high 11 rebounds against Hillsdale.
 
*Number reflect ranking prior to G-MAC semifinals round.

NCAA Division II – Active Career Leaders

Keeley Carter

No. 4 – Scoring Average (18.7 ppg) No. 4 – Free Throws Made (482) No. 13 – Scoring (1,791 points) No. 14 – Free Throw Percentage (82.4%) No. 22 – Field Goals Made (608)

 

NCAA DIVISION II – 2023-24 RANKINGS

Team

No. 14 – Scoring Offense (76.2 ppg) No. 20 – Three-point Percentage (35.0%) No. 27 – Field Goal Percentage (44.4%)

NCAA DIVISION II – 2023-24 RANKINGS

Individuals

Keeley Carter No. 4 – Scoring Average (21.3 ppg) No. 9 – Free Throws (159) No. 11 – Field Goals (200)

 

GREAT MIDWEST – 2023-24 RANKINGS

Team

No. 1 – Blocks (3.75 bpg) No. 1 – Offensive Rebounds (13.0 rpg) No. 2 – Scoring Offense (76.2 ppg) No. 2 – Field Goal Percentage (44.4%) No. 2 – Free Throw Percentage (75.1%) No. 3 – Scoring Margin (9.2 ppg) No. 3 – Rebounding (38.7 rpg) No. 3 – Three-point Percentage (35.0%) No. 3 – Turnover Margin (2.93) No. 4 – Steals (9.61 spg)

GREAT MIDWEST – 2023-24 RANKINGS

Individuals

Keeley Carter No. 1 – Scoring Average (21.3 ppg) No. 2 – Free Throw Percentage (82.8%) No. 3 – Rebounding (8.1 rpg) No. 4 – Assists (3.3 apg) No. 6 – Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.1) No. 7 – Field Goal Percentage (48.2%) No. 16 – Steals (1.5 spg) No. 20 – Three Point Field Goals Per Game (1.4)   Faith Wilken No. 2 – Steals (2.4 spg) No. 2 – Blocks (1.1 bpg) No. 2 – Three Point Field Goals Per Game (2.2) No. 5 – Three Point Percentage (33.6%) No. 8 – Scoring Average (13.3 ppg) No. 13 – Rebounding (6.1 rpg)   Kor Fornesa Liu No. 11 – Rebounding (6.2 rpg)   Konnor Gambrell No. 10 – Steals (1.7 spg) No. 13 – Scoring Average (12.3 ppg) No. 17 – Blocks (0.6 bpg) No. 20 – Rebounding (5.3 rpg)   Lili Wilken No. 3 – Three Point Percentage (35.9%) No. 5 – Three Point Field Goals Per Game (2.0) No. 17 – Assists (2.5 apg)   Monique Emelifeonwu No. 13 – Blocks (0.7 bpg)

 
SUCCESS RETURNS TO THE PURPLE AND WHITE
The Trevecca women's program had a long run of success during their NAIA years, including a trip to the national championship game in 2008. The team continued their winning ways early in the transition to NCAA Division II and the Great Midwest. Trevecca hosted the first two G-MAC Championships after winning the first two regular season championships.
 
The last few years the program didn't continue those winning ways. When Karen Booker took over the program last year, she returned the winning ways and in a big way. That success has continued into her second season. Below is a look at the success the last two seasons as compared to the previous seven.
 

YEAR	OVERALL
2022-23	19-10
2023-24	22-10
TOTAL	41-20

Trevecca won just 58 overall games (8.28 games per season) in the previous seven seasons.
 

YEAR	G-MAC
2022-23	13-7
2023-24	15-5
TOTAL	28-12

Trevecca won just 45 G-MAC games (6.42 games per season) in the previous seven seasons.
 

YEAR	HOME
2022-23	10-4
2023-24	14-0
TOTAL	24-4

Trevecca won just 36 home games (5.14 games per season) in the previous seven seasons.
 
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